The British Government is pressing Dublin and Sinn Fein to use their influence with Garvaghy Road residents to secure agreement that this year's Drumcree Orange parade should be allowed to proceed.
Irish sources insisted last night that there was no Government commitment to produce such an outcome. At the same time it is becoming clear that key figures in London are inclined to regard Sinn Fein's attitude to the Drumcree parade as an early test of the party's commitment to the new political arrangements flowing from the Belfast Agreement.
Effectively confirming the gameplan, one source said: "If you are about to join a new administration you've got to show that you've moved from opposition."
The Irish Times has learned that the possibility of renewed confrontation over the Drumcree march, and the potential political fallout from it, were raised by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, during his pre-European summit meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Dublin 11 days ago.
It is understood Mr Blair pressed proposals to permit a march by limited numbers of Orangemen, playing non-contentious music, and possibly accompanied by a "dignified" protest by residents in a meeting with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, following earlier discussions with an Ulster Unionist delegation led by Mr David Trimble during his post-referendum visit to Belfast.
And sources confirm that British ministers and officials have considered an appeal for the direct intervention of the SDLP leader, Mr Hume.
However, given the declared attitude of the residents, there is no obvious confidence in Dublin that Mr Hume would be able to secure their agreement, even were he to assume the role.
One source said it was clear that the plan, broadly the same as that canvassed earlier this week by Mr Trimble, represented "the solution the British are convinced is the only solution possible".
However, while the Taoiseach clearly wanted to help avoid confrontation and was acutely aware of the political and personal implications for Mr Trimble, who is the Upper Bann MP, the source said: "We're not necessarily on board to produce that outcome, not least because we are not sure we could." Official British sources contacted yesterday maintained this remained a question for the Parades Commission. But other sources agreed the Commission was "effectively redundant" on an issue now commanding attention at the highest political levels.